LEOMINSTER -- As people trickled into the ballroom at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Martin Connors stood on one side of the double doors, shaking hands, giving hugs and knowing virtually everyone by first name.

Connors' graciousness with the people attending the Nashua Valley Council Boy Scouts of America 2016 Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner resembled his contributions, through both time and money, to the community as president and CEO of Rollstone Bank & Trust.

Those contributions played a part in the reason he received the 2016 Distinguished Citizen Award at Wednesday's event.

"I don't think there is anyone who is more committed to the community and giving back to it," said Mike Montouri, chairman of the board at Rollstone.

Rollstone Bank President and CEO Martin Connors, the Nashua Valley Council Boy Scouts of America 2016 Distinguished Citizen, with his family -- wife Kit, daughter Kelly and son Martin -- before being honored at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Leominster on Wednesday. (SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / ASHLEY GREEN)

"Our bank is a community bank, and part of being a community bank is giving back. He exemplifies that in the highest degree."

The dinner, which serves as a fundraiser for the Scouts, is designed to be a "lightning rod" in hopes that other key community members will support the Nashua Valley Council Boys Scouts of America and their missions within the community, according to Harry Pape, president of the council.

"Our mission is to build character within the youth of America," he said. "We look for folks who exemplify those characteristics."

Connors said he was "very honored" to be recognized Wednesday, but he didn't want the night to be about him.

"It's not about me," he said.

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"It's about an opportunity to bring a lot of people together and raise money for the Boy Scouts."

Connors said he was unsure how much was raised, but he said it was more than the $10,000 that is normally raised. He wanted to hit that mark to create a scholarship for boys from Fitchburg.

"There are boys that cannot afford to be Scouts because of uniforms and the programs, so we are going to endow a scholarship tonight where if there is a kid in Fitchburg who wants to be a Scout and can't afford it, he will be a Scout," Connors said.

"It makes a big difference," Gary Savignano, executive director of the Nashua Valley Council, said about the work of people like Connors. "It makes it a reality where we can actually put some resources into growing the Scouting program."

Connors said he sees that as part of his role in the community.

"Not everyone is a fortunate as we are," he said. "My family is very lucky. If people want to be involved, we shouldn't have money being a detriment."

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